Monday March 30, 2026
National Today —
More than 6.2 million juvenile fall-run Chinook salmon were released from the Coleman National Fish Hatchery into Battle Creek this week, beginning their journey down the Sacramento River. But conservationists are deeply concerned about the challenging conditions the young salmon will face, including well-below-average river flows and an early spring heat wave.
Why it matters
The situation illustrates the growing tensions across Northern California’s water system, as reservoirs remain strong but snowpack is tracking toward near-record lows. Water managers are holding back supply to prepare for the dry months ahead, even as conservation groups argue the young salmon need a pulse of flow to move them downriver safely.